In the meeting tentatively scheduled until Wednesday, the more pressing issue will be whether the two countries can come to terms on the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents.

Japanese media reports have indicated that Tokyo may be willing to normalize ties with Pyongyang depending on the meeting's results.

The outcome of governmental talks between Japan and North Korea in Beijing is likely to determine the future course of bilateral relations.

Japan's leading daily, the Yomiuri Shimbun reports, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi may visit Pyongyang to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il if the North agrees to send the remaining family members of former Japanese abductees to Japan.

These abductees have been separated from their spouses and children in North Korea since they ended up staying during a rare hometown visit to Japan in October 2002.

If and when their family members arrive in Japan Tokyo is proposing to immediately resume talks on normalizing bilateral diplomatic relations.

These negotiations have been suspended since the last meeting in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur two and a half years ago, after the two sides failed to narrow their differences on the abduction issue.

Aside from the contentious issue, the Japanese government expressed willingness to provide humanitarian assistance to the North’s suffering in the aftermath of a devastating rail blast in the border town of Ryongchon.

Tokyo is planning to send additional relief goods to the site of devastation on top of the US$100,000 worth of emergency aid it has already delivered.

Arirang TV